Electric target



W. L. BECKER ELECTRIC TARGET June 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.19, 1946 I N VEN TOR. MIX-(Her 14.13 ec Ken Patented June 5, 1951 warrenSTATES smear FFICE ELECTRIC TARGET Walter L. Becker, Tamms, Ill.

Application December 19, 1946, Serial No. 717,169

This invention relates to improvements in amusement devices, and moreparticularly to the provision of a device which is actuated by thefiring of a bullet from a gun.

It is a custom at the present time to indulge in games and arti'ficeswhich necessitates skill. Such pastimes not only are intriguing to theplayers but also have an educational value.

It it an object of this invention to provide a mechanical device, whichhas electrical principles, whereby the skill of a player is developed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in which abullet is broken into small fragments upon impact.

A further object is to provide an electrical target at which bullets maybe shot while the target is still in motion, the effect of the bulletsbeing projected upon a screen, delineating the efiicacy of the operator.

These and other objects are attained by the novel construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated by theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of bars used in the device.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the device.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a grill used in connection with theinvention.

Fig. 7 is a cross section of a screen used in the device.

Fig. 8 is the perspective view of the bars.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the device, partly in section, showing detailsof bars used in the device.

Referring to the drawing, the device is shown to comprise a plurality ofhard metal bars I, which are arcuately assembled as shown in Fig. 2. Thebars are spaced, the spacing being greater at the rear of the bars thanat the front, as indicated by the numeral 2. (See Fig. 4.) The manner inwhich the bars are assembled as shown, causes bullets to strike the barsalways at the same angle as related to the shooter.

Over the front of the bars is a screen of translucent and resilientmaterial 3, upon which is projected an image, which may be still or inmotion.

The electric target, herein described, indicates to the shooter theexact point of impact of the bullet, as the lead bullet passing betweenthe bars I makes an electrical contact which is rapidly broken, creatingan intensely brilliant flash or arc. As the lead bullets pass throughthe bars which are connected to a source of electrical current, thebullets are broken into a large number of small fragments, most ofwhich, pass between the bars, and upon leaving the bars open theelectric circuit to create an intense flash which indicates momentarilywhere the bullet has struck the target.

The bars are spaced as shown in Fig. 4, to allow for passage of the leadfragments. The bars are joined together at the top and sides by bolts 4,and frame bars 5 and 6, which are insulated from each other by aninsulating bushing, the bars 5 and 5 being alternately welded to thevertical bars I as shown in Fig. 9. The bar 5 is connected to oneterminal of a source of electric current and the bar 6 is connected tothe other terminal of the source. Bar 5 is connected to alternate bars,and the bar 6 is connected in a similar manner, so that neither the bar5, or the bar 6, is connected to two adjacent bars I. This prevents thepossibility of a short circuit and eliminates the necessity of providinginsulation between the vertical bars I.

Horizontal brace bars are provided as shown at 8, in Fig. 9. Thesebraces 8 are preferably made of brass and wedge shaped as shown in thedrawings, the front edge thereof being sharp, and welded to alternatebars I, to prevent the possibility of a short circuit.

As stated above, the braces 8 do not engage adjacent bars I, but contactevery-other bar, as shown in Fig. 8.

The bars 5 and 6 are separated from each other by suitable insulatingmeans, at spaced intervals, as indicated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5.

In operation, a bullet fired at a projected image, passes through ascreen and comes in contact with the bars I, which are of such size andso spaced that the bullet is broken into small fragments, most of whichpass between the bars, and create an intensely brilliant flash. Thisflash being in direct line with the point of aim, is seen through thescreen and gives the illusion of occurring directly on the screen at thepoint where the bullet strikes. The bullets may be fired at any desiredrate since each provides its own flash.

There are no moving parts or wires, and the construction is such that itmay be used indefinitely without apparent damage when used with theproper bullets.

The screen 3 is made of a translucent substance which is also resilient,such as rubber, one surface of which is coated with a pigment to receiveand reflect projected images. The screen is different from the ordinaryscreen in that perforations made by bullets are self closing and it maybe used indefinitely before requiring replacement.

The arrangement of the bars prevents the lodging of fragments betweenthe bars to cause short circuits, and the frame between the bars is openat the bottom so that fragments can drop out.

The frame bars 5 and t are so arranged that bullets are prevented fromcoming in contact therewith, and thus preventing damaging of insulatingmaterials.

Since it is known that a greater are occurs by breaking a circuit, theabove construction is that no insulation is used between the bars i, and

the lead fragments are enabled to form arcs at the front, in between andat the time of leaving the rear edges of the bars. This enables amultiple series of arcs which appear as one large flash, as far as theeye can determine.

The bars, as shown in Fig. 9, when assembled are side .by side andspaced from each other With the front edges flush. In order that thebrace bars 8 will not touch vertical adjacent bars I,

recesses are cut in alternate vertical bars as shown at 28, in Fig. 8,and lugs 2! project from the vertical bars I, for attachment to thebraces 8, so that a brace 8 does not contact adjacent bars I.

' The above description is to be considered as illustrative and notlimitative of the invention of which modification can be made, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. In an electrical target device, a plurality of spaced vertical barsadapted to be abridged by a conductor, the bars being arranged toprovide a curved target with the center of the curve being disposedinwardly of the outer ends of the target when in operative position,means for applying the opposite poles of an electrical current toalternately disposed bars and the current is supplied to the alternatelydisposed bars to provide two independent sets of bars that are suppliedby independent circuits, a screen of flexible and resilient material infront or said bars, said screen being adapted to receive a projectedimage, and horizontally disposed bracing means for connecting the twoindependent sets of alternate bars so that there is no connectionbetween said bars except when a conductor is placed between adjacentbars, and the bars being so spaced that a conductor the size of a riflebullet will bridge the bars to provide the necessary electrical contact.

2. In an electrical target device, a plurality of spaced vertical barsadapted to be bridged by a conductor, the bars being so spaced that aconductor the size of a rifle bullet will bridge the bars to provide thenecessary electrical contact frame bars connected to said bars and tothe opposite poles of a source of electrical current, said frame barsbeing insulated from each other and having connection to alternatevertical bars so that no frame bar is connected to two adjacent verticalbars, and a screen of flexible and resilient material positioned infront of all of said bars.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, further characterized by saidvertical bars being arcuately arranged with the space between adjacentbars widening from the front of the bars to the rear.

4. A structure set forth in claim 2, further characterized by aplurality of brace bars connected to said vertical bars, said brace barsbeing horizontally arranged and each brace bar being connected to everyother vertical bar.

.5. A structure set forth in claim 2, further characterized by bracebars connected to the vertical bars by welding, said brace bars beinghorizontally arranged and wedged shaped, and

connected to alternate vertical bars so that there is no normalelectrical connection between adjacent vertical bars.

WALTER L. BECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,269,552 Blumenberg June 11,1918 1,657,913 Barnett Jan. 31, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date24,212 Great Britain 1907

